Suture bandage



Nov. 1, 1955 M. A. MESTRAND SUTURE BANDAGE Filed June 17, 1953 I N V EN TOR. {)ZAXIMEA NESTJPAND III I TI'OF/YEV United States Patent SUTURE BANDAGE Maxime A. Mestrand, Dearborn, Mich.

Application June 17, 1953, Serial No. 362,299

1 Claim. (Cl. 128-334) This invention relates generally to surgical dressings and particularly to a suture bandage.

As is well known, conventional surgical suturing is successfully employed to hold cuts and lacerations closed for proper healing, but is not easy to perform even by trained personnel, and is not always readily available. For example, conventional suturing is not readily available at the front line of a battle field and as a result tourniquets are sometimes used with harmful results to the tissue due to stoppage or decrease in blood circulation. Then again, minor cuts and lacerations are frequently neglected because of the reluctance of some persons to inconvenience themselves by a visit to a doctor or hospital and as a result the cuts or lacerations do not heal properly and leave ugly scars.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide a suture bandage which is more quickly applied than conventional suturing; which performs the same function as conventional suturing of holding the severed surfaces together for proper healing; and which may be applied by laymen.

Another object of my invention is to provide a suture bandage which is particularly suitable for use in places such as the front line of a battle field where conventional suturing is not readily available.

Another object of the invention is to provide a suture bandage which is constructed such that when applied to a wound exerts continued pressure in directions to hold the lacerated surfaces together in a manner to effect proper healing of the wound both at the bottom thereof and at the skin surface.

A further object of my invention is to provide a suture bandage of a character such that the dressing may be replaced without removing the bandage.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a handy, surgical adhesive tape bandage having the function of suturing a wound and one which is inexpensive.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detail description with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating my bandage applied to a laceration;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bandage;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the bandage; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view of the bandage shown applied to a laceration.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, the numeral 20 designates in general my suture bandage illustrated in Fig. 2 as applied to a laceration 0n the arm and showing how the severed surfaces of the laceration are held together by the bandage for best healing effects. As will later be understood the bandage functions to urge the severed surfaces of a laceration together by applying pressures in directions normal to spaced tangencies on the bandage and this function is also illustrated in the enlarged view of Fig. 4.

My suture bandage 20 comprises a holder or adhesive tape 22 and a pair of force transmitting members or pressure pads 24. As shown, the pressure pads 24 are spaced apart longitudinally of the adhesive tape to straddle or engage on opposite sides of a cut or laceration and extend transversely of the tape 22. Other holding means may be used, but I prefer adhesive tape because it is inexpensive, easy to apply, and because the adhesive may be used to hold the pressure pads 24 to the tape. I have illustrated the pressure pads 24 as rolls of fabric but such pads may be of any suitable material and shape.

In applying the bandage 20, one end of the adhesive tape 22 is stuck to the skin, making sure that the pressure pads 24 will straddle the wound and while holding the sides of the wound together with one hand the other is used to draw the adhesive tape down tight and press it to the skin, thus exerting pressure through pads 24 in directions urging the sides of the wound together. By pinching the sides of the wound together while applying the bandage and by assuring that the tape is taut when stuck to the skin it will be understood that the pressure exerted by the tape is directed at the pressure pad points in directions inwardly and toward each other or normal to tangencies of the pads 24 on the tape. This functions to hold the surfaces of the wound together from the bottom thereof on up to the top to achieve best healing results.

In order to ventilate the wound and also to be able to dress the wound without disturbing the bandage or pads 24, I provide one or more openings 26 in the tape 22 between the pads 24, and provide a cover pad 28 to overlie the opening or openings 26. Pad 28 is preferably attached by a strip of adhesive tape 30 to tape 22 and may carry medication for the wound. When it is desired to dress the wound it is only necessary to peel back the pad adhesive 30 to apply the medication after which the pad and adhesive may be repositioned or if desired a new pad and adhesive may be applied.

From the foregoing description it will now be understood that I have provided a suture bandage suitable for applications to cuts and lacerations where the conventional surgical suturing is not readily available, such as at the front lines of a battle field or anywhere to treat minor cuts and lacerations. It will be seen that by providing spaced pressure pads on an adhesive tape that the pads concentrate the pressure exerted by the tape along lines on opposite sides of the wound and in directions to urge and hold the severed surfaces together for proper healing. The effectiveness of the bandage is augmented by the fact that the pressure pads have the additional function of spacers which space the tape portion between the pads from the wound so as to not cut off circulation and by the provision of openings in the tape to receive medication. In addition, it will be appreciated that the dressing may be readily changed without need of disturbing the suture pressure pads since the dressing may be made simply by peeling back the cover pad and applying a new one.

While I have shown and described my invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only by the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A bandage comprising, a single strip of adhesive tape, a pair of fabric spacers stuck to said strip of adhesive tape, said spacers being spaced longitudinally of said strip and extending transversely thereof to straddle a laceration and'space said strip therefrom, a plurality of openings in said strip between said spacers to receive medication without removing the strip, a medication cover pad over said openings, and a second strip of adhesive tape stuck to the first and holding the medication pad in position over said openings.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

